Upcycled Embroidery Hoop Earring Holder

If you guys follow my Facebook page or Instagram feed, you know how much I love hand-embroidery. I love hand-stitching each piece and have even started to sell some of them. (I absolutely love when someone buys my hoops, but shhh, don't tell, I am not heartbroken if a piece doesn't sell—I'm beginning a hoop art gallery and up it will go!) This hobby means that I have a lot of hoops. As I was experimenting with sequins and beading on a hoop, I had an idea on a completely different way to use an embroidery hoop—as an earring holder. 

5 No-Sew Inexpensive, Easy DIY Gifts

Since a big part of my blog concerns ways to save money, I thought that tackling one of the biggest potential budget-hits—gifts—would be helpful. If you're like us, you have a lot of birthdays that fall in the same few months, and that gets expensive. 

To combat this, I give myself a gift budget and I stick to it. I've also found that a great way to cut costs on gifts is to purchase a $10 ITunes or Starbucks gift card and make a gift. Package them together in pretty paper, and you have a useful and thoughtful (doesn't get more personal than handmade) gift that will not break the bank. If funds are super-tight, many of these would be just fine as stand-alone gifts, too.  This list if for the girls in your life, but I will do a post for boys soon, as well.

Making Boot Socks Out of an Old Sweater

Last week, I upcycled a sweater that was too tight into a soft infinity scarf. It was a no-brainer that I could upcycle the sleeves, but I wasn't sure if I wanted to do a hat or boot socks for me, or even leggings for my daughter. I finally decided to go with the boot socks.

Upcycling a Glass Jar for Storage Using Fabric Scraps

If you haven't noticed, I'm really into upcycling my glass jars and cans into storage solutions. I did a simple five-minute up cycle here and even made my own button fabric here to reuse an old can. However, I do still love those pretty, stylish store-bought holders.  The one I really liked at a fabric store in leopard print was $12, and I just couldn't spend that on a jar. With some fleece scraps and a marinara jar, though, I made a storage solution that I like as much as the one I was eyeing at the store.

Desperation 7-Day Meal Plan Under $50

I am new to the more crafty aspects of the blog, but consider myself an expert at thrifty cooking and meal-planning. It's simply a way of life for us, since you have to learn better budgeting when living on one income.

Upcycling a Too-Small Sweater into an Infinity Scarf

Most of us have it: that beautiful sweater that we washed incorrectly and is now too small, or the one that's simply too small, but we're holding on to it, remembering the days we used to fit into it. (Nostalgic sigh.)

Name Hoop Art--Cameron

Like my hoop art? Purchase it here.

The final hoop in my childrens' name and birth date series was my oldest son's. His was very challenging, because nothing babyish would do. He's a Teenager, with a capital "T", so I had to come up with something that wouldn't make him roll his eyes, haha!

Each of my hoops represents my kids as I see them now: Eve's is soft, dreamy, and calming, using lavenders and purples. Madden's is bright and bold, using primary colors and thick lines. So Cameron's could never be anything but gaming-related, since as soon as my mom bought him a Game Boy Advance at 5 years old, that's been his love. 

Thrifty Recipe: "Secret Ingredient" Scrambled Eggs

When my best friend told me I should do a post with my scrambled egg recipe, I thought there wouldn't be much to it, but when I thought about it, there really is a technique I use for making scrambled eggs. Also, I add an ingredient that I have discovered not many people know about, and it makes the eggs. It's very thrifty to have breakfast for dinner, and these eggs are often on the menu for us. This carton was on sale for $1, so if I had added some pancakes with it, we could have had dinner for about 50 cents a person. That's my kind of budget!

Upcycled Valentine's Day Door Hanger

I never thought I would upcycle an upcycled project, but that is exactly what I did to create an adorable Valentine's day door hanger.

You guys may remember the fun I had with a wire hanger and cut up strips of t-shirts. I made this Halloween wreath this way, and this candy cane door hanger. 

Using Your Existing Crib as a Co-Sleeper for Baby

When I was pregnant with my youngest son, we were living in a 2-bedroom home and space was at a premium. With that in mind, I bought a mini-crib and we set his crib up in a small alcove my husband built in our oldest son's room. I figured he'd sleep in a bassinet in our room until he was sleeping through the night, then we'd move him to his crib.

Name Hoop Art--Madden

Like my hoop art? Purchase it here.

Last week, I completed an embroidery hoop for my daughter. It was stitched on a cream-colored background and was done in purples and grays. I really like the romantic, dreamy feel of it. Eve is a calm, happy baby, and the mellow hoop suits her.

5 Ways to Upcycle Dole Fruit Cups

I really like the convenience of fruit cups, but I do not like the waste the plastic little bowls make, so I reuse them as much as possible. After you finish them, wash  well in hot, soapy water, of course. Also, I have washed them on the top rack of my dishwasher with no problem!

(CLOSED) 50th Post Giveaway!!

NOTE: THIS POST IS NOW CLOSED.  CONGRATULATIONS, BRANDY!!

I am going to run a giveaway on my Facebook page, in honor of my 50th post!

I am hovering at 77 likes on my Facebook page and I would love to get to 100. When I do, I will draw a name and the winner can choose between one of these handmade projects I've created:

The card wallet has minor sewing imperfections but works great, and the embroidery pendant is a design I came up with last night. I will give the winner a choice of silver tone chain or long, coordinating embroidery floss as a chain if they choose the pendant.  If you're a guy, either would make a great gift for your significant other, mother, sister, or any female in your life.  Or, if you're feeling sassy, feel free to keep it for yourself! :)

The conditions for the sweepstakes are simple:

1.) Like my page

2.) Like my giveaway post

3.) Share my page (or any post on my page) and comment in my giveaway post that you shared. 

Once I reach 100 likes on my page, I will draw a name and you will get to choose between either the card wallet or the pendant as your gift! More pictures for incentive:

If you've shared my page in the last week, feel free to just like and comment on the giveaway post.  But, if you want to share my page 2-3 (or more) times in the week, you'll get 2-3 entries in the sweepstakes—the more times you share, the more chances to win! If you have a personal and a fan page on Facebook and want to share on both, that's 2 entries, also.  

Once I get to 100 likes, I will draw a winner.  If you are a reader but do not have Facebook, I will be doing a Blogspot-related giveaway at 100 posts on the blog, so don't think I've forgotten you!

Good luck to everyone and thank you guys so much for your support!

Cook Once, Eat Twice: Two Crockpot Beef Recipes

This is my 49th post, guys!!  I am so excited that I've been able to post this much with 2 babies to care for, but it's been so fun, sharing my tips and projects with all of you! Thank you for reading my little blog; it means a lot to me!

On to the post...

Name Hoop Art--Eve

Like my hoop art? Purchase it here.

I spent a few hours on this piece last night after the babies went to bed. It's made up of some lovely wool felt I got in yesterday.

Look at this rainbow of softness:

And a scrap from my 20 cent scrap bundle I scored:

I used dark gray, silver, and 2 shades of purple for my embroidery floss colors.

I plan to do one for each of my children, but I started with my daughter, because her name is shortest, haha!

I am pleased with the result and can't wait to have all 3 of them hanging up!

Felt Disney Princess Clip Tutorial

For Christmas, I made my niece a hair (or shoe or purse or anything) clip set. It had 2 of the Disney princesses and I had a fun time making them.

5 Minute Can Upcycle

This is a quick post, and a no-brainer for some, but I thought it was neat to show how quickly you can give something a new look, and a new life. This is totally frivolous and unnecessary, but it really does clean up an eye-sore in my sewing area, and it just looks better! This principle could be used for more than sewing—this could go in a home-office to hold stamps, pens, clips, scrap booking supplies, a baby room to hold pacifiers and other small baby things, or a kids room to hold Legos, small cars or even hair supplies. It would make a cute change bank for loose change, also.  Really, the possibilities are endless.

Turning Baby Boy Clothes into Baby Girl Clothes

My son and daughter are only 22 months apart in age, and as a result, I have a ton of really nice baby clothes that many would call "boyish".  I tend to think anything is gender neutral (sports themes, vehicles, etc.), but many don't, and prefer more traditional colors or graphics for girls.  With that in mind, I wanted to show how you can easily turn a plain, "boyish" shirt into a fun, modern "girly" shirt.

Thrifty Recipe: Chicken Noodle Soup

I haven't posted a thrifty recipe in a while and as I was making up a batch of homemade chicken noodle soup today, I thought it would be a good post.

Fun, Upcycled Button Holder

I'm setting up a sewing/crafting corner and am on the hunt for pretty storage solutions.

This can was just begging to be reused, and when I got a great pack of buttons for Christmas, I knew it could be perfect for them.

Last Name Hoop Art

Like my hoop art? Purchase it here.

Well, readers, we were hit by a couple of illnesses in our family, and it's been very exhausting, hence the blog-silence. It's a new year, though, and I'm still crafting along, upcycling what I can!

This hoop art is a fun design that I completed over a week ago, but didn't get a chance to blog about. I upcycled a piece of my husband's old dress shirt for this one. I really like how the lines both allowed me to keep the text and design straight, and lend a whimsical notebook-paper look to the piece.